 Unlock the secrets to enhanced well-being with our guide to the best functional nutrition supplements for optimal health.
Understanding Functional Nutrition and Its Importance Functional nutrition is an approach to health that considers an individual's unique nutritional needs. It emphasizes using whole, minimally processed foods and targeted supplements to support the body's natural functions and promote overall well-being. Functional nutrition aims to optimize health and prevent disease by focusing on personalized nutrition and addressing the root causes of health issues. This holistic approach considers genetics, stress levels, and lifestyle choices, making it a comprehensive strategy for achieving and maintaining optimal health. Critical Supplements for Boosting Immunity A robust immune system is essential for defending against infections and illnesses. Several supplements, including vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc, can play a crucial role in enhancing immune function. These nutrients are known for their ability to strengthen the immune response, reduce inflammation, and support the production of immune cells. Probiotics are another essential supplement for immunity, as they help maintain a healthy gut microbiome, which is closely linked to immune health. Additionally, herbs such as echinacea and elderberry have been shown to boost immune function and reduce the severity of colds and flu. Enhancing Digestive Health Through Supplements Digestive health is a cornerstone of overall well-being, affecting nutrient absorption, energy levels, and immune function. Supplements such as probiotics and digestive enzymes can significantly improve gut health by supporting the balance of beneficial bacteria and aiding in the breakdown of food. Fiber supplements, like psyllium husk, can also enhance digestive health by promoting regular bowel movements and preventing constipation. Additionally, supplements like glutamine and licorice root extract can help heal the gut lining and reduce symptoms of digestive disorders such as leaky gut syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Supplements to Support Mental Clarity and Mood Various factors influence mental clarity and mood, including nutrition. Certain supplements can help enhance cognitive function and emotional well-being. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil supplements, are known to support brain health and improve mood by reducing inflammation and promoting neurotransmitter function. Adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha and rhodiola can help manage stress and improve mental clarity by balancing cortisol levels and enhancing resilience to stress. Additionally, supplements like magnesium, B vitamins, and GABA can support relaxation, reduce anxiety, and improve overall mood. Choosing the Right Supplements: Safety and Quality Considerations When choosing supplements, it's essential to prioritize safety and quality. Look for products that have been third-party tested for purity and potency, and opt for supplements made from high-quality, natural ingredients. Avoid supplements with artificial additives, fillers, or preservatives. Consulting with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen is also crucial. They can provide personalized recommendations based on your specific health needs and conditions. By taking these precautions, you can ensure that you're selecting the most effective and safe supplements to support your health and well-being. Check out the Fullscript Dispensary under the Supplements tab for a 15% discount and more information on top selling supplements. Disclaimer: This page may have affiliate links that I make a commission off of. I strive to make products available that I would use myself at a discounted price to my visitors.
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Functional medicine focuses on global health by emphasizing the personalized and systems-oriented approach found in the functional medicine matrix. At the heart of this is the consideration of everyone as a “biochemically individual” patient. Just what does this mean? Definition of “Biochemical Individuality” This term represents the concept that the human body is a composite of each individual's physiological structure, nutritional, and chemical makeup as influenced by their environment, lifestyle, and genes. Some geneticists say we control 80% – 97% of our genetic expressions. Genes are turned on and off by nutrition and the environment. The term was coined in 1956 by Dr. Roger Williams, so it is not a new concept, just a newly used concept. It is a familiar concept in integrative medicine, but not so much in allopathic approaches such as obtained with traditional medical doctors who have had no osteopathic or integrative experience. Functions of Biochemical Individuality in Functional Medicine This term explains how the body individually reacts to stimuli such as:
The most accurate test to determine the nutritional status of the blood is not always a blood test. A “challenge” test or other more specific tests are often needed to determine individuality. For example, a simple blood test of B12 levels may show values in a normal range, but testing for antibodies to vitamin B12 may uncover a problem that otherwise would not be seen. Antibodies against B12 mean you may have adequate B12 levels in the blood, but you also have substances causing the B12 not to work. In addition, folate and B12 should be measured at the same time because deficiencies of both can cause similar symptoms. The Schillings test tells the practitioner if you are absorbing that average level of B12 properly. The methylmalonic test detects early B12 deficiency that a regular blood test would not pick up. These are tests that an MD is unfamiliar with, but that shed light on the intricacies of precise deficiencies and how to fix them. Gene-Nutrient Interactions Each of us may have a unique “barcode” that separates us as individuals buried in our genes. The mind, emotions, behavior, and physiological functioning are all determined to a great extent by the interaction of this “barcode” with nutrition. For example, metabolic syndrome progression largely depends on gene/nutrition/environment interactions. The importance of nutrition cannot be overstated. Studies have shown that personalized dietary instruction improves insulin sensitivity in those with metabolic syndrome, a disease for which no one treatment is entirely adequate. This raises questions about the adequacy of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) levels established by the government and based on “normal” people. The RDI levels did not consider biochemical individuality. Genetotrophic Disease These diseases result from genetically determined metabolic needs not being met through diet and supplements. Medications, the environment, or other nutritional factors may have altered the genes. Nevertheless, the disease will develop if the nutrient in question is not provided. Remember, your doctor does not usually test the vitamin status of your blood, yet these tests are available and are often ordered by dietitians or integrative medicine practitioners. Insurance may cover these tests if properly coded and ordered by a licensed professional such as a Physician's Assistant or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Companies such as Labcorp, or Ulta Labs perform micronutrient tests. *Note: RDs may be able to order reimbursable labs once our licensure is in place next year in 2025. We can already order clinical diets in hospitals and long-term care. Application Consideration of each person's biochemical individuality is integral to a comprehensive functional medicine assessment. Implementing patient-specific treatment plans based on biochemical individuality is essential to the success of patient outcomes.  Clinical nutrition used within the contextual framework of Functional Medicine (FM) is similar in structure, but not theory, to Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) practiced by registered dietitians as commissioned by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). The difference lies in the theory and how the framework is applied to the individual, where MNT is expanded to operate out of the Functional Medicine Matrix of assessment and treatment.
What is Medical Nutrition Therapy in Functional Medicine? MNT is a clinically focused approach with a defined system of assessment charting and intervention, evaluation, and follow-up considerations. The acronym for this system is ADIME, assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring, and evaluation, and often forms the basis for charting notes. Assessment In functional medicine, the assessment phase differs for clinical nutrition from that of a traditional dietitian or practitioner. In the assessment phase, the probing for information and the tests are clinically specific, and the information is globally pertinent in the areas of environment, society, culture, relationships, stress, sleep, anxiety, eating disorders, food/medication interactions, and work. All this information is considered in the nutrition assessment phase of the FM practitioner as opposed to a pure nutrition assessment of calorie intake, food preferences, and medical history. While the traditional dietitian asks for general labs, the FM practitioner may ask for more biochemical absorption and metabolism tests, such as the Shillings test for B12 absorption or a urinary iodine test for thyroid function. Diagnosis Clinical nutrition diagnoses are biochemically individual based on specific laboratory tests and the functional medicine matrix assessment. Intervention The interventions for an FM clinical nutrition patient may contain elements gathered from the FM matrix and may often include stress interventions to lower cortisol, which affects carbohydrate metabolism, or sleep interventions that affect appetite control during the day. Monitoring After an intervention, one of the most frequent problems is the loss of patients to follow-up. Nutritional therapies must be monitored as many are short-term, and lab reassessments are needed to determine progress and future treatment. For example, a person with high cholesterol/triglycerides may be placed on a low-fat, low-carbohydrate diet with Berberine 500 mg 3x/day for six weeks. Then, a total cholesterol \triglyceride redraw is done to see if progress is being made to determine if berberine needs to be continued or the diet tweaked. Follow-up Follow-up is similar to monitoring, but you are making specific scheduled visits to obtain monitoring data, so the patient expects to come back to see the practitioner on a given date and time. It stresses accountability for the intervention. Goals of Clinical Nutrition in Functional Medicine The goals of clinical nutrition are to use the MNT model in such a manner that:
Clinical nutrition is essentially MNT applied within the Functional Medicine Matrix, which customizes all assessments and interventions to personalize the individual's care. It is a comprehensive approach to nutritional intervention that goes deeper yet is more expansive than traditional medicine.  5 Types of Keto Diets Ketogenic diets are all the rage today, many of them followed incorrectly or at risk to their heart’s health. If you have a coach helping you with this diet, look to see if they are certified in the diet instruction. Certification programs exist that guide the provider in helping the patient or client choose heart-healthy fats when keeping that fat goal high and not turn to a diet of bacon and eggs. The five types of keto diets people are following these days are: The Standard Keto Diet This diet is the most typical ketogenic diet and consists of a 75% fat intake, 20% protein intake, and 5% carbohydrate intake. It is necessary to control the protein intake because protein readily turns into glucose. It is no joke that this diet is strict and difficult to follow. Some good examples of healthier fat choices include: 1. Cacao Butter 2. Coconut Butter 3. Organic Coconut Oil 4. MCT Oil 5. Almond 6. Butter 7. Coconut Milk 8. Coconut Cream 9. Ghee 10. Avocado 11. Nuts 12. Sugar Free Chocolate 13. Olives 14. Butter 15. Avocado Oil 16. Cheeses 17. Olive Oil Targeted Keto Diet Targeted Ketogenic Diets (TKD) are geared toward bodybuilders. With a targeted keto, allowable carbohydrates are scheduled into the meal plan a half hour before a workout. The key to making this diet a success is high- intensity workouts to get that glucose burned out of the system before it is taken out of ketosis. A good tip for burning your allowable carbs fast is to eat easily digestible carbohydrates. After the workout, it is essential to take in more protein to rebuild muscle fast. Cyclical Keto Diet This variation of the standard diet allows you to have healthy carbs like berries and other lower glycemic foods on the carb list. You will need to put yourself back on the classic keto diet after 24-48 hours to get back into ketosis easily without all the adverse effects such as “keto flu.” High Protein Ketogenic Diet This variation is targeted more towards people struggling with obesity. In a high protein ketogenic diet, practitioners will consume 35% protein, 60% fat, and 5% carbs. The carbs are still kept low, but in this case, the fat is decreased by 15%, and the corresponding increase in protein is 15%. Protein is vital on the keto diet, but too much of it will cause you to fall out of ketosis, as mentioned earlier. This variation is also suitable for elite athletes. Restricted Ketogenic Diet This is a restricted caloric version of the standard diet, and only 12 grams of carbohydrate per day are allowed. This diet is most often used in medical settings and most often in the cancer ward when someone is following a keto diet with their cancer treatments. It is a variation used with a three day fast. A 2010 study showed that a patient with a form of brain cancer had no signs of mutated brain tissue after two months on this diet. Medical professionals will not only monitor caloric intake, carbs, and ketosis, but specific ketone levels will need to be achieved. I am not advocating ketogenic diets, just trying to create an informed environment. Please post questions in the forum area, and I will address each one. Sign up for our newsletter before you leave! And, be sure to submit any questions or comments. #ketogenic, #ketogenicdiets, #lowcarbohydrates "Targeted Ketogenic Diet" by Stephen Pearson is licensed under CC BY 2.0  Diet and Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a brain disorder that ravages your memory, robbed 5.5 million Americans of their quality of life in 2019. Two-thirds of those affected were women, the traditional caretakers of our society. African Americans are twice as likely as Caucasians to be diagnosed with this illness, and there is no cure. But there is hope.
Research is showing that diet may delay the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, and we all know that every moment we can spend with our loved one where we don't have to wrestle with the side-effects of this disease are precious and to be treasured. Studies from Rush University in Chicago have found that the MIND diet, a combination of the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet, may decrease the risk of Alzheimer's by as much as 50% and can still protect the brain even when not followed rigorously. What is the MIND Diet? The MIND diet was born out of blending the DASH diet for hypertension, which focused on limiting sodium in the diet while increasing vegetables and low-fat dairy with the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean Diet, a diet focused on increasing consumption of vegetables, monounsaturated fats from olive oil, fish, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids- the building blocks of this meal plan. Researchers believe that those who follow the diet for years will receive the most significant protective benefits. The time to start a MIND diet is when you find out you have Alzheimer's Disease in the family as it will lower your risk of developing it. For those who already have it, it's not too late to start the diet to delay the progression of AD. What Does the MIND Diet Do? The MIND diet emphasizes those foods that protect the brain and restricts those foods that affect the brain adversely. It works because it reduces inflammation of the brain and nerves; it acts as an antioxidant for the tissues it makes nerve transmission more fluid and decreases neuron loss while improving memory overall. How Do I Follow a MIND Diet? As with any major change, start slow. Make a few changes at a time until the MIND diet feels like your everyday routine. Soon even grocery shopping will become automatic, and you won't have to pour over lists of foods that you aren't used to eating or learning new recipes or ways of cooking because it has become a habit. It just takes a little time, one step at a time. When introducing starchy beans into the diet, do so slowly if it is a new food to the individual. Starchy beans like chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, fava beans, etc., are not only high in fiber, they may be gas forming and cause bloating if introduced into the diet too quickly. Always introduce increased fiber slowly with 8 glasses of water per day to avoid bloating. Another trick to lessen gas and bloating from beans is to either soak them overnight, drain and rinse or bring to a boil and drain, rinse and then bring the beans to heat again. Draining the water gets rid of the gassy component present in beans. Also, some healthy foods can be expensive, a real consideration for most of us. One way to save money is to buy fruits and vegetables in season and freeze them. Don't use sugar or salt, just freeze them after they've been cleaned, label and date them and freeze for later. MIND Diet Guidelines The Rules of the Diet Are:
Application The MIND diet supports vascular health and is protective against vascular dementia. Certain foods used in the MIND diet have been directly linked to improved neurological function or reduced Alzheimer's Disease biomarkers in the brain. MIND diet foods reflect nutrients that have been shown in studies to slow cognitive decline, decrease the risk of AD, scour the brain of amyloid plaque, and decrease neuron loss. So, while a cure may not be here, hope is on the horizon for a better quality of life by following the MIND diet. #Alzheimer's Disease #MIND diet #cognitive #dementia What is Evidence-Based Medicine? Defined, evidence-based medicine is the cumulative result of a synthesis of clinical expertise, patient’s values and the best scientific evidence we have available relative to that patient’s care. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) originated in the second half of the 19th century and represents the conscientious use of the best evidence available in making reasonable decisions about patient care. Gaps Between Research and Practice in Medicine One of the biggest shortcomings of using EBM is the gap between the release of scientific studies and their adoption by the clinical community. It represents a huge knowledge gap and a barrier to the implementation of the EBM model. For example, in the case of the beneficial use of aspirin in the treatment of heart attack victims, it took almost a decade for it to become a routine practice after the EBM studies were released. Interestingly, the publication of COVID-19 articles are bypassing some of the usual publication rules and are going right into the search engines. This is to specifically reduce the gap between research and practice, an endeavor much needed in this pandemic. Classification of Evidence EBM classifies evidence based on their freedom from biases in the interpretation of the results. The levels of evidence look something like this: 1. Evidence obtained by a meta-analysis of several randomized controlled research (RCR). 2. Evidence from a sole RCR. 3. Evidence from one well designed controlled RCR. 4. Evidence from one quasi-experimental approach. 5. Research case study only. 6. Evidence from one’s clinical practice or case studies. Each level represents a strength of evidence to ponder in application to a patient’s case or to a public health situation. With EBM a provider can assess the strength of evidence with the risks/benefits of ordering tests and treatments for an individual patient or the strength of evidence for a public health recommendation. We are said to be in an age of EBM. Five Ways Evidence-Based Medicine Adds Value to the Functional Health Model 1. EBM helps functional health providers stay on top of standardized treatment protocols without reading 17 studies a day by utilizing study classification and priority. 2. Uses timely data to make decisions. This has been greatly aided by the computer age and the development and maintenance of large databases of information that providers can access for research and education. 3. It improves accountability, transparency, and worth. What this means is the patient acquires the best care for the least cost with all variables of the treatment consistent with the values of the patient. 4. Improves the quality of care. Despite the fact that Americans spend more money on healthcare than any other nation in the world, we are the sickest. 5. Improves outcomes. Functional health providers are invested in practicing medicine that works, not just seeing patients on a daily schedule and taking care of urgent ills. They want to see that a prescribed treatment has true value for a patient and that the care received has made a significant impact on that patient’s overall health and well-being. Functional health represents a fusion of EBM and alternative medicine. It has been argued that functional health practitioners are not evidence-based practitioners. That cannot be further from the truth. Functional health practitioners frequently rely on EBM for treatment decisions and novel approaches to diseases that are on the cutting edge of scientific decisions and novel approaches to diseases. #evidence-based medicine #EBM #quality control #functional health #evidence  |
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